Public companies are required to disclose risks that can affect the business and impact the stock. These disclosures are known as “Risk Factors”. Companies disclose these risks in their yearly (Form 10-K), quarterly earnings (Form 10-Q), or “foreign private issuer” reports (Form 20-F). Risk factors show the challenges a company faces. Investors can consider the worst-case scenarios before making an investment. TipRanks’ Risk Analysis categorizes risks based on proprietary classification algorithms and machine learning.

Spruce Power Holding disclosed 36 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Spruce Power Holding reported the most risks in the “Finance & Corporate” category.

Risk Overview Q3, 2024

Risk Distribution

47% Finance & Corporate

17% Legal & Regulatory

14% Production

8% Tech & Innovation

8% Ability to Sell

6% Macro & Political

Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy

This chart displays the stock's most recent risk distribution according to category. TipRanks has identified 6 major categories: Finance & corporate, legal & regulatory, macro & political, production, tech & innovation, and ability to sell.

Risk Change Over Time

2020

S&P500 Average

Sector Average

Risks removed

Risks added

Risks changed

Spruce Power Holding Risk Factors

New Risk (0)

Risk Changed (0)

Risk Removed (0)

No changes from previous report

The chart shows the number of risks a company has disclosed. You can compare this to the sector average or S&P 500 average.

The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.

Risk Highlights Q3, 2024

Main Risk Category

Finance & Corporate

With 17 Risks

Finance & Corporate

With 17 Risks

Number of Disclosed Risks

No changes from last report

S&P 500 Average: 31

No changes from last report

S&P 500 Average: 31

Recent Changes

2Risks added

0Risks removed

1Risks changed

Since Sep 2024

2Risks added

0Risks removed

1Risks changed

Since Sep 2024

Number of Risk Changed

No changes from last report

S&P 500 Average: 3

No changes from last report

S&P 500 Average: 3

See the risk highlights of Spruce Power Holding in the last period.

Risk Word Cloud

The most common phrases about risk factors from the most recent report. Larger texts indicate more widely used phrases.

Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 36

Finance & Corporate

Total Risks: 17/36 (47%)Above Sector Average

Share Price & Shareholder Rights9 | 25.0%

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1

Added

We are subject to risks associated with proxy contests and other actions of activist stockholders.

Publicly traded companies have increasingly become subject to campaigns by activist investors advocating corporate actions such as governance changes, financial restructurings, increased borrowings, special dividends, stock repurchases or even sales of assets or entire companies to third parties or the activists themselves. We received a notice dated April 17, 2024 from Clayton Capital Appreciation Fund, L.P. and its affiliates, Clayton Partners LLC, the JSCC Family Trust, and Jason Stankowski (collectively, "Clayton"), which owned approximately 2.1% of the Company's outstanding shares at the time of submission, purporting to nominate a slate of two candidates for election as directors at our 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. On June 21, 2024, we entered into a Cooperation Agreement with Clayton (the "Cooperation Agreement") pursuant to which, among other things, we agreed to increase the size of our Board from six to seven directors and to take all necessary actions to appoint Clara Nagy McBane to our Board to fill the directorship resulting from the increase in the size of our Board and Clayton agreed to certain customary standstill provisions that will remain in effect until the date that is the earlier of (i) the date Clayton receives notice that we will not nominate Ms. McBane for re-election to our Board at the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, (ii) immediately following the closing of the polls on the election of directors at the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, (iii) August 31, 2025 if the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders has not been held by that date, and (iv) in the event that any party materially breaches the Cooperation Agreement, the date that is 30 calendar days following written notice of such breach from the non-breaching party, if such breach (if capable of being cured) has not been cured by such date, or, if impossible to cure within 30 calendar days, such party has not taken substantive action to correct by such date. A proxy contest or related activities on the part of activist stockholders could adversely affect our business for a number of reasons, including, without limitation, the following: - responding to proxy contests and other actions by activist stockholders can be costly and time-consuming, disrupting our operations and diverting the attention of our Board of Directors, management and our employees;- perceived uncertainties as to our future direction may result in the loss of potential business opportunities and may make it more difficult to attract and retain qualified personnel, business partners, customers and others important to our success, any of which could negatively affect our business and our results of operations and financial condition;- actions by activist stockholders may be exploited by our competitors, cause concern to our current or potential customers and make it more difficult to attract and retain qualified personnel;- if nominees advanced by activist stockholders are elected or appointed to our Board of Directors with a specific agenda, it may adversely affect our ability to effectively and timely implement our strategic plans or to realize long-term value from our assets, and this could in turn have an adverse effect on our business and on our results of operations and financial condition; and - proxy contests may cause our stock price to experience periods of volatility.

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 2

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides, subject to limited exceptions, that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for certain stockholder litigation matters, which could limit our stockholders' ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or stockholders

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that derivative actions brought in our name, actions against directors, officers and employees for breach of fiduciary duty and other similar actions may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder's counsel except any action (A) as to which the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, (C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction, or (D) any action arising under the Securities Act, as to which the Court of Chancery and the federal district court for the District of Delaware shall have concurrent jurisdiction. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the forum provisions in the Certificate of Incorporation. This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder's ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that we find favorable for disputes with our or any of our directors, officers, other employees, or stockholders, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims. We cannot be certain that a court will decide that this provision is either applicable or enforceable, and if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our Certificate of Incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, our may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, operating results, and financial condition. Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that the exclusive forum provision will be applicable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. As a result, the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 3

Our Certificate of Incorporation contains anti-takeover provisions that could adversely affect the rights of our stockholders

Our Certificate of Incorporation contains provisions to limit the ability of others to acquire control of our or cause us to engage in change-of-control transactions, including, among other things: - provisions that authorize our Board of Directors, without action by our stockholders, to issue additional shares of Common Stock and preferred stock with preferential rights determined by our Board of Directors;- provisions that permit only a majority of our Board of Directors to call stockholder meetings and therefore do not permit stockholders to call stockholder meetings;- provisions that impose advance notice requirements, minimum shareholding periods and ownership thresholds, and other requirements and limitations on the ability of stockholders to propose matters for consideration at stockholder meetings;- provisions limiting stockholders' ability to act by written consent; and - a staggered board whereby our directors are divided into three classes, with each class subject to retirement and re-election once every three years on a rotating basis. These provisions could have the effect of depriving our stockholders of an opportunity to sell their Common Stock at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain control of our company in a tender offer or similar transaction. With our staggered Board of Directors, at least two annual or special meetings of stockholders will generally be required in order to effect a change in a majority of our directors. Our staggered Board of Directors can discourage proxy contests for the election of our directors and purchases of substantial blocks of our shares by making it more difficult for a potential acquirer to gain control of our Board of Directors in a relatively short period of time.

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 4

We may issue additional shares of Common Stock or other equity securities without stockholder approval, which will dilute existing stockholders' interests and may depress the market price of our Common Stock

As of December 31, 2023, we have options, restricted stock units (RSUs) and warrants outstanding to issue up to an aggregate of 1,825,181 shares of our Common Stock. We also have the ability to issue up to 324,467,408 shares of Common Stock under our 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2020 Plan"). Pursuant to the 2020 Plan, the number of shares available for issuance automatically increases annually on the first day of each fiscal year during the period beginning with the fiscal year immediately following the fiscal year during which the 2020 Plan is first approved by the our stockholders, and ending on the second day of fiscal year 2030, in an amount equal to the lesser of: (a) 5% of the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock on such date; and (b) an amount determined by the plan administrator. We may issue additional shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of equal or senior rank in the future in connection with, among other things, future acquisitions, or repayment of outstanding indebtedness, without stockholder approval, in a number of circumstances. Our issuance of additional shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of equal or senior rank would have the following effects: - our existing stockholders' proportionate ownership interest in our will decrease;- the amount of cash available per share, including for payment of dividends (if any) in the future, may decrease;- the relative voting strength of each previously outstanding share of Common Stock may be diminished; and - the market price of our shares of Common Stock may decline.

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 5

We may issue additional Common Stock or preferred stock, including under our equity incentive plan. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our stockholders and likely present other risks

We may issue a substantial number of additional shares of common or preferred stock, including under our equity incentive plan. Any such issuances of additional shares of common or preferred stock: - may significantly dilute the equity interests of our investors;- may subordinate the rights of holders of Common Stock if preferred stock is issued with rights senior to those afforded our Common Stock;- could cause a change in control if a substantial number of shares of our Common Stock are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; and - may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our Common Stock.

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 6

The price of our Common Stock may be volatile

The price of our Common Stock may fluctuate due to a variety of factors, including: - actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly and annual results and those of other public companies in our industry;- our failure to meet market expectations for our performance;- mergers and strategic alliances in the industry in which we operate;- market prices and conditions in the industry in which we operate;- changes in laws or government regulations applicable to our business;- substantial sales of our Common Stock;- issuance of new or updated research reports from securities analysts;- announcement or expectation of additional equity or debt financing efforts;- potential or actual military conflicts or acts of terrorism;- announcements concerning us or our competitors;- the general state of the securities markets;- threatened or actual lawsuits, investigations, or other legal proceedings; and - short-selling activity related to our Common Stock. These market and industry factors may materially reduce the market price of our Common Stock, regardless of our operating performance. In addition, we believe there has been and may continue to be substantial trading in derivatives of our Common Stock, including short selling activity or related similar activities, which are beyond our control, and which may be beyond the full control of the SEC and Financial Institutions Regulatory Authority or "FINRA". While the SEC and FINRA rules prohibit some forms of short selling and other activities that may result in stock price manipulation, such activity may nonetheless occur without detection or enforcement. There can be no assurance that should there be any illegal manipulation in the trading of our stock, it will be detected, prosecuted or successfully eradicated. Significant short selling market manipulation could cause our Common Stock trading price to decline, to become more volatile, or both.

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 7

If our stock price declines, our Common Stock may be subject to delisting from the New York Stock Exchange

If the average closing price of our Common Stock is less than $1.00 per share for 30 consecutive trading days, we may receive a letter from the staff of the NYSE stating that our Common Stock will be delisted unless we are able to regain compliance with the NYSE listing criteria requiring that we maintain an average closing price for our Common Stock of at least $1.00 per share. The average closing price of our Common Stock was below $1.00 per share for 30 consecutive trading days in 2022 and 2023, to which we received notices of non-compliance from the NYSE on October 20, 2022 and March 28, 2023. On October 6, 2023, following stockholder approval, we filed the Amended Certificate of Incorporation to effect the Reverse Stock Split. Although, subsequent to the Reverse Stock Split, we were able to regain compliance because the average closing price for our Common Stock was subsequently at least $1.00 per share for 30 consecutive trading days, we cannot guarantee that our stock price will continue to trade above $1.00 per share or otherwise meet the NYSE listing requirements and therefore our Common Stock may in the future be subject to delisting. The continuing effect of the Reverse Stock Split on the market price of our Common Stock cannot be predicted with any certainty, and the history of similar reverse stock splits for companies in like circumstances is varied. If our Common Stock is delisted, this would, among other things, substantially impair our ability to raise additional funds and could result in a loss of institutional investor interest and fewer development opportunities for us.

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 8

We are a "smaller reporting company" and will be able to avail ourselves of reduced disclosure requirements applicable to smaller reporting companies, which could make our common stock less attractive to investors

We are a "smaller reporting company," as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not "smaller reporting companies," including reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements. We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile. We may take advantage of these reporting exemptions until we are no longer a "smaller reporting company." We will remain a "smaller reporting company" until (a) the aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter is $75 million or more and we reported annual net revenues as of our most recently completed fiscal year is $100 million or more, or (b) the aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter is $700 million or more, regardless of annual revenue.

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 9

We have been named as a defendant in certain stockholder class actions, which like many litigation matters, could result in substantial damages and other related costs and may require management-level attention

Beginning on March 8, 2021, two putative class action complaints were filed in the federal district court for the Southern District of New York against us and certain of our current officers and directors. The cases were consolidated as In re XL Fleet Corp. Securities Litigation, Case No. 1:21-cv-02171, a lead plaintiff was appointed, and an amended consolidated complaint was filed on July 20, 2021. The amended complaint alleges that certain public statements made by the defendants between September 18, 2020, and March 31, 2021 violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. Our motion to dismiss the amended complaint was denied on February 17, 2022. We reached a settlement with the plaintiffs, which is currently pending approval by the court. On September 20, 2021, and October 19, 2021, two class action complaints were filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery against certain of our current officers and directors, and the company's sponsor of its SPAC merger, Pivotal Investment Holdings II LLC. The actions were consolidated, and a consolidated amended complaint was filed on January 31, 2022, alleging various breaches of fiduciary duty, and aiding and abetting breaches of fiduciary duty, for purported actions relating to the negotiation and approval of the December 21, 2020, merger and organization of Legacy XL to become XL Fleet, and purportedly materially misleading statements made in connection with the merger. Although we believe that the allegations asserted in both actions are without merit, we are pursuing a settlement of these matters. In 2021, we received requests for information, including a subpoena, from the SEC related to, among other things, the XL Fleet business combination with Legacy XL and the related private investment in public equity financing, the Company's sales pipeline and revenue projections, purchase orders, suppliers, California Air Resources Board approvals, fuel economy from our Power Drive products, customer complaints, and disclosures and other matters in connection with the foregoing. In September 2023, the SEC simultaneously filed and settled administrative proceedings alleging violations of the federal securities laws. Specifically, the settlement order requires that we: (i) cease and desist from committing or causing any violations and any future violations of Sections 17(a)(2) and 17(a)(3) of the Securities Act, Sections 13(a) and 14(a) of the Exchange Act and Rules 12b-20, 13a-11, and 14a-9 thereunder, and (ii) pay, a civil money penalty in the amount of $11.0 million to the SEC, which has been paid. These legal proceedings and any other similar or related legal proceedings or investigations are subject to inherent uncertainties, and the actual costs to be incurred relating to these matters will depend upon many unknown factors. The outcome of these legal proceedings is uncertain, and we could be forced to expend significant resources in the defense of these actions, and we may not prevail. Monitoring and defending against legal actions is time-consuming for Management and detracts from our ability to fully focus our internal resources on our business activities, which could result in delays of our testing or our development and commercialization efforts. In addition, we may incur substantial legal fees and costs in connection with these matters. We are also generally obligated, to the extent permitted by law, to indemnify our current and former directors and officers who are named as defendants in these and similar actions. We are not currently able to estimate the possible cost to us from these matters, as these actions are currently at an early stage, and we cannot be certain how long it may take to resolve these matters or the possible amount of any damages that we may be required to pay. It is possible that we could, in the future, incur judgments or enter into settlements of claims for monetary damages. Decisions adverse to our interests in these actions could result in the payment of substantial damages, or possibly fines, and could have a material adverse effect on our cash flow, results of operations and financial position. In addition, the uncertainty of the currently pending litigation could lead to increased volatility in our stock price.

Accounting & Financial Operations3 | 8.3%

Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 1

If we fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, our ability to produce accurate financial statements or comply with applicable regulations could be impaired.

In connection with our assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, we concluded that there were material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. See Item 9A. Controls and Procedures, included in Part II, for additional information regarding these matters. We may identify other material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting in the future. The existence of material weaknesses within our internal controls could harm our business, the market price of our Common Stock and our ability to retain our current, or obtain new, lenders, suppliers, key employees, alliance, and strategic partners or require the implementation of certain undertakings with the SEC. In addition, the existence of material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting may affect our ability to timely file periodic reports under the Exchange Act. The inability to timely file periodic reports could result in the SEC revoking the registration of our Common Stock, which would negatively impact our ability to remain listed on the NYSE. Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Management is required annually to deliver a report that assesses the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. However, for as long as we remain a "non-accelerated filer" under the rules of the SEC, our independent registered public accounting firm is not required to deliver an annual attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. We will cease to be a non-accelerated filer if (a) the aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter is $75 million or more and we reported annual net revenues of greater than $100 million for our most recently completed fiscal year or (b) the aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter is $700 million or more, regardless of annual net revenues. If we cease to be a non-accelerated filer, we would again be subject to the requirement for an annual attestation report by our independent registered public accounting firm on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. If we are unable to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we may not be able to produce accurate financial statements, and investors may therefore lose confidence in our operating results, our stock price could decline, and we may be subject to litigation or regulatory enforcement actions.

Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 2

We have no current plans to declare a dividend in the foreseeable future

We have no current plans to declare any cash dividends to holders of our Common Stock in the foreseeable future. Consequently, investors may need to rely on sales of their shares after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize any future gains on their investment.

Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 3

We are an early stage company with a history of losses, and we expect to incur significant expenses and continuing losses

We incurred net losses of approximately $65.8 million and $93.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. We believe that we will continue to incur operating and net losses through the near future. We completed the acquisition of Legacy Spruce Power and discontinued and disposed of our legacy businesses, and as a result our future net income or loss will depend upon the implementation of our strategy to expand our new solar power business. We expect the rate at which we will incur future losses will be impacted by the following: - Costs which may be incurred in connection with the implementation of our business strategy;- Costs related to our general and administrative functions to support our public company obligations; and - Acquisition and integration of other solar energy portfolios or businesses. Because we will incur portions of the costs and expenses from these efforts before we receive the expected incremental revenues with respect thereto, our losses in future periods are expected to be significant. In addition, we may find that these efforts are more expensive than we currently anticipate or that these efforts may not result in revenues, which would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and further increase our losses.

Debt & Financing4 | 11.1%

Debt & Financing - Risk 1

We may require additional financing to support the development of our business and implementation of our growth strategy

We expect to have sufficient capital for the next 12 months for our operations and strategic initiatives. However, we may require additional capital investment in the future to fund operations and support strategic initiatives. There can be no assurance that we will have access to the capital we need on favorable terms when required or at all. Additional financing may not be available on terms acceptable to us. If we are unable to obtain needed financing on acceptable terms, we may not be able to implement our business plan, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. If we raise additional funds through the sale of equity, convertible debt or other equity-linked securities, our shareholders' ownership will be diluted. We may issue securities that have rights, preferences and privileges senior to our Common Stock.

Debt & Financing - Risk 2

Our interest rate swaps could be adversely affected if the financial institutions holding such rate swaps fail

We use derivative financial instruments, primarily interest rate swaps, to manage our exposure to interest rate risks on our syndicated term loans, which are recognized on the balance sheet at their fair values. Our interest rate swaps are with third-party financial institutions, including Silicon Valley Bridge Bank, N.A., which is the successor to Silicon Valley Bank. If Silicon Valley Bridge Bank, or another third-party financial institution that holds the Company's interest rate swaps, fails to perform under the interest rate swaps, our operating liquidity and financial performance could be materially and adversely affected.

Debt & Financing - Risk 3

Servicing our debt requires a significant amount of cash to comply with certain covenants and satisfy payment obligations, and we may not have sufficient cash flow from our business to pay our substantial debt and may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness, which may not be successful

We have $646.7 million of long-term debt outstanding as of December 31, 2023, as discussed in more detail in the section titled "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our consolidated financial statements, in each case, included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our ability to make scheduled payments of the principal of, to pay interest on or to refinance our indebtedness depends on our future performance, which is subject to economic, financial, competitive, and other factors beyond our control. Our business may not continue to generate cash flow from operations in the future sufficient to service our debt and make necessary capital expenditures to operate our business. If we are unable to generate such cash flow, we may be required to adopt one or more alternatives, such as selling assets, restructuring debt, or obtaining additional equity capital on terms that may be onerous or highly dilutive. Our ability to timely repay or otherwise refinance our indebtedness will depend on the capital markets and our financial condition at such time. We may not be able to engage in any of these activities or engage in these activities on desirable terms, which could result in a default on our debt obligations and negatively impact our financial condition and prospects.

Debt & Financing - Risk 4

Rising interest rates could adversely affect our financial condition

We have $646.7 million of long-term debt outstanding as of December 31, 2023, which are secured by our solar assets and the majority of which is variable rate debt. Although we use interest rate swap contracts to mitigate the market risk associated with rising interest rates, significant increases in interest rates may still increase our cost of capital.

Corporate Activity and Growth1 | 2.8%

Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 1

Management has limited experience in operating a public company. If we fail to manage our growth effectively, we may not be able to develop, produce, make or sell our products or services successfully.

Our executive officers have limited experience in the management of a publicly traded company. Management may not successfully or effectively manage a public company that is subject to significant regulatory oversight and reporting obligations under federal securities laws. Management's limited experience in dealing with the increasingly complex laws pertaining to public companies could be a significant disadvantage in that it is likely that an increasing amount of their time may be devoted to these activities, which will result in less time being devoted to the management and growth of the post-combination company. Any failure to manage our growth effectively could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition. Additionally, we may not have adequate personnel with the appropriate level of knowledge, experience and training in the accounting policies, practices or internal control over financial reporting required of public companies in the U.S. The development and implementation of the standards and controls necessary for us to achieve the level of accounting standards required of a public company in the U.S. may require costs greater than expected. Competition for individuals with this experience is intense, and we may not be able to attract, integrate, train, motivate or retain additional highly qualified personnel. The failure to attract, integrate, train, motivate and retain these additional employees could seriously harm our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.

Legal & Regulatory

Total Risks: 6/36 (17%)Below Sector Average

Regulation3 | 8.3%

Regulation - Risk 1

Our business depends in part on the regulatory treatment of third-party owned solar energy systems

Retail sales of electricity by third parties such as us face regulatory challenges in some states and jurisdictions, including states and jurisdictions we intend to enter where the laws and regulatory policies have not historically embraced competition to the service provided by the vertically integrated centralized electric utility. Some of the principal challenges pertain to whether third-party owned solar energy systems qualify for the same levels of rebates or other non-tax incentives available for customer owned solar energy systems, whether third-party owned solar energy systems are eligible at all for these incentives and whether third-party owned solar energy systems are eligible for net metering and the associated significant cost savings. Furthermore, in some states and utility territories third parties are limited in the way they may deliver solar energy to their customers. These regulatory constraints may, for example, give rise to various property tax issues. Changes in law and reductions in, eliminations of or additional requirements for, benefits such as rebates, tax incentives and favorable net metering policies decrease the attractiveness of new solar energy systems to distributed home solar power companies and the attractiveness of solar energy systems to customers, which could reduce our acquisition opportunities. Such a loss or reduction could also adversely impact our access to capital and reduce our willingness to pursue solar energy systems due to higher operating costs or lower revenues.

Regulation - Risk 2

We are subject to U.S. and foreign anti-corruption and anti-money laundering laws and regulations. We could face criminal liability and other serious consequences for violations, which could harm our business

We are subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, the U.S. domestic bribery statute contained in 18 U.S.C. § 201, the U.S. Travel Act, the USA PATRIOT Act and possibly other anti-bribery and anti-money laundering laws in countries in which we conduct or will conduct activities. Anti-corruption laws are interpreted broadly and prohibit companies and their employees, agents, contractors, and other collaborators from authorizing, promising, offering or providing, directly or indirectly, improper payments or anything else of value to recipients in the public or private sector. We can be held liable for the corrupt or other illegal activities of our employees, agents, contractors, and other collaborators, even if we do not explicitly authorize or have actual knowledge of such activities. Any violations of the laws and regulations described above may result in substantial civil and criminal fines and penalties, imprisonment, the loss of export or import privileges, debarment, tax reassessments, breach of contract and fraud litigation, reputational harm, and other consequences.

Regulation - Risk 3

A failure to comply with laws and regulations relating to interactions by us with current or prospective customers could result in negative publicity, claims, investigations and litigation and adversely affect our business.

Our business substantially focuses on Customer Agreements and transactions with residential customers. We offer leases, loans and other products and services to consumers by contractors in our networks, who utilize sales people employed by or engaged as third-party service providers of such contractors. We must comply with numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations that govern matters relating to interactions with residential consumers, including those pertaining to consumer protection, marketing and sales, privacy and data security, consumer financial and credit transactions, mortgages and refinancings, home improvement contracts, warranties and various means of customer solicitation. These laws and regulations are dynamic and subject to potentially differing interpretations and various federal, state and local legislative and regulatory bodies may initiate investigations, expand current laws or regulations, or enact new laws and regulations regarding these matters. Changes in these laws or regulations or their interpretation could dramatically affect how we do business, acquire customers, manage and use information collected from and about current and prospective customers and the costs associated therewith. We strive to comply with all applicable laws and regulations relating to interactions with customers. It is possible, however, these requirements may be interpreted and applied in a manner inconsistent from one jurisdiction to another and may conflict with other rules or our practices.

Litigation & Legal Liabilities1 | 2.8%

Litigation & Legal Liabilities - Risk 1

Changed

We have received subpoenas from states attorneys general requesting information about our business. These investigations could result in substantial legal fees, fines, penalties or damages and may divert Management's time and attention from our business

We have received subpoenas from state attorneys general requesting information about our business. These investigations could result in substantial legal fees, fines, penalties, or damages and may divert Management's time and attention from our business. Specifically, we have received subpoenas from the attorneys general for the states of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Texas regarding, among other things, our sales, marketing and billing practices. We are cooperating with these investigations, each of which have involved requests for a substantial volume of documents to be produced by the Company. While we are responding to these subpoenas with the assistance of counsel, it is possible that these investigations may result in a fine, penalty or injunction which may adversely affect our ability to operate in these states.

Taxation & Government Incentives1 | 2.8%

Taxation & Government Incentives - Risk 1

If the IRS makes determinations that the fair market value of our solar energy systems is materially lower than what we have claimed, we may have to pay significant amounts to our fund investors, and our business, financial condition, and prospects may be materially and adversely affected

We and our fund investors claim the Commercial ITC or the U.S. Treasury grant in amounts based on the fair market value of our solar energy systems. We have obtained independent appraisals to determine the fair market values we report for claiming Commercial ITCs and U.S. Treasury grants. With respect to U.S. Treasury grants, the U.S. Treasury Department reviews the reported fair market value in determining the amount initially awarded, and the IRS may also subsequently audit the fair market value and determine that amounts previously awarded constitute taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. With respect to Commercial ITCs, the IRS may review the fair market value on audit and determine that the tax credits previously claimed must be reduced. If the fair market value is determined in these circumstances to be less than what we or our tax equity investment funds reported, we may owe our fund investors an amount equal to this difference (including any interest and penalties), plus any costs and expenses associated with a challenge to that valuation. We could also be subject to tax liabilities, including interest and penalties. If the IRS further disagrees now or in the future with the amounts we or our tax equity investment funds reported regarding the fair market value of our solar energy systems, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and prospects.

Environmental / Social1 | 2.8%

Environmental / Social - Risk 1

Compliance with occupational safety and health requirements can be costly and noncompliance with such requirements may result in potentially significant monetary penalties, operational delays and adverse publicity.

The ongoing operations and maintenance of solar energy systems and energy storage systems requires individuals hired by us or third-party contractors, potentially including our employees, to work at heights with complicated and potentially dangerous electrical systems. There is substantial risk of serious injury or death if proper safety procedures are not followed. Our operations are subject to regulation under Occupational Safety and Health Administration ("OSHA"), the U.S. Department of Transportation ("DOT") regulations and equivalent state and local laws. Changes to OSHA or DOT requirements, or stricter interpretation or enforcement of existing laws or regulations, could result in increased costs. If we fail to comply with applicable OSHA or DOT regulations, even if no work-related serious injury or death occurs, we may be subject to civil or criminal enforcement and be required to pay substantial penalties, incur significant capital expenditures, or suspend or limit operations. Because individuals hired by us or on our behalf to perform ongoing operations and maintenance of our solar energy systems and energy storage systems, including third-party contractors, are compensated on a per project basis, they are incentivized to work more quickly than servicers compensated on an hourly basis. While we have not experienced a high level of injuries to date, this incentive structure may result in higher injury rates than others in the industry and could accordingly expose us to increased liability. Individuals hired by or on behalf of us may have workplace accidents and receive citations from OSHA regulators for alleged safety violations, resulting in fines. Any such accidents, citations, violations, injuries or failure to comply with industry best practices may subject us to adverse publicity, damage our reputation and competitive position and adversely affect our business.

Production

Total Risks: 5/36 (14%)Below Sector Average

Employment / Personnel3 | 8.3%

Employment / Personnel - Risk 1

Added

Our performance may be negatively impacted by our recent Chief Executive Officer transition

On April 12, 2024, we announced that our Chairman, Christopher Hayes, had been named President and Chief Executive Officer to replace our Former CEO. There are a number of risks associated with a CEO transition, any of which may harm the Company. If the new CEO is unsuccessful at leading the management team or is unable to articulate and execute the Company's strategy and vision, our business may be harmed, and our stock price may decline. If we do not successfully manage our CEO transition, it could be viewed negatively by our customers, employees or investors and could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and operating results. With the change in leadership, there is a risk to retention of other members of senior management, as well as to continuity of business initiatives, plans, and strategies through the transition period and if we are unable to execute an orderly transition, our business may be adversely affected.

Employment / Personnel - Risk 2

Our employees and independent contractors may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, including noncompliance with regulations, which could have an adverse effect on our business and operating results.

We are exposed to the risk that our employees and independent contractors may engage in misconduct or other illegal activity. Misconduct by these parties could include intentional, reckless or negligent conduct or other activities that violate laws and regulations, including production standards, U.S. federal and state fraud, abuse, data privacy and security laws, other similar non-U.S. laws or laws that require the true, complete and accurate reporting of financial information or data. It is not always possible to identify and deter misconduct by employees and other third parties, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to be in compliance with such laws or regulations. In addition, we are subject to the risk that a person or government could allege such fraud or other misconduct, even if none occurred. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could have a significant impact on our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results, including, without limitation, the imposition of significant civil, criminal and administrative penalties, damages, monetary fines, disgorgement, integrity oversight and reporting obligations to resolve allegations of non-compliance, imprisonment, other sanctions, contractual damages, reputational harm, diminished profits and future earnings and curtailment of our operations, any of which could adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.

Employment / Personnel - Risk 3

We are highly dependent on the services of our Chief Executive Officer, and if we are unable to retain him or attract and retain other key employees, management or technical personnel, our ability to compete could be harmed.

Our success depends, in part, on our ability to retain our key personnel. We are highly dependent on the services of Christian Fong, our Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Fong is the source of many of the ideas and execution driving our company. If Mr. Fong were to discontinue his service to us due to death, disability or any other reason, we would be significantly disadvantaged. We do not maintain, and we have no plans to maintain in the future, key man life insurance policies with respect to Mr. Fong. Our success also depends, in part, on our continuing ability to identify, hire, attract, train, develop and retain other highly qualified personnel. Experienced and highly skilled employees are in high demand and competition for these employees can be intense, and our ability to hire, attract and retain them depends on our ability to provide competitive compensation. We may not be able to attract, assimilate, develop or retain qualified personnel in the future, and our failure to do so could adversely affect our business, including the execution of our global business strategy. Any failure by Management and our employees to perform as expected may have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.

Supply Chain1 | 2.8%

Supply Chain - Risk 1

Our solar partners or suppliers may be unwilling or unable to fulfill their respective warranty and other contractual obligations. Warranty claims, product liability claims or accidents against us could adversely affect our business

We agree to maintain the solar energy systems and energy storage systems installed on our customers' homes during the length of the term of our Customer Agreements, which are typically 20 years. We are exposed to any liabilities arising from the solar energy systems' failure to operate properly and are generally under an obligation to ensure each solar energy system remains in good condition during the term of the Customer Agreement. We are the beneficiary of the manufacturers' and system installers' warranty coverage, typically of 20 years for equipment warranties and five to ten years for workmanship warranties. In the event that such warranty providers file for bankruptcy, cease operations or otherwise become unable or unwilling to fulfill their warranty or related maintenance obligations, we may not be adequately protected by such warranties or maintenance obligations. Even if such warranty providers fulfill their obligations, the warranty or maintenance obligations may not be sufficient to protect us against all of our losses. These warranties are subject to liability and other limits. If we seek warranty protection and a warranty provider is unable or unwilling to perform its warranty obligations, whether as a result of its financial condition, its ability to act in a timely manner, or otherwise, or if the term of the warranty or maintenance obligation has expired or a liability limit has been reached, there may be a reduction or loss of protection for the affected assets, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Our failure to accurately predict future liabilities related to material quality or performance expenses could result in unexpected volatility in our financial condition. Because of the long estimated useful life of our solar energy systems, we have been required to make assumptions and apply judgments regarding a number of factors, including our anticipated rate of warranty claims and the durability, performance and reliability of our solar energy systems. Additionally, we discontinued our Drivetrain business, sold some of the assets relating to this business and retained warranty obligations relating to the historical business. If our warranty reserves are inadequate to cover future warranty claims, our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results could be materially and adversely affected. We may become subject to significant and unexpected warranty expenses as well as claims from former customers. We made these assumptions based on the historic performance of similar solar energy systems or on accelerated life cycle testing. Our assumptions could prove to be materially different from the actual performance of our solar energy systems, causing us to incur substantial expense to repair or replace defective solar energy systems in the future or to compensate customers for solar energy systems that do not meet their performance guarantees. Equipment defects, serial defects or operational deficiencies also would reduce our revenue from Customer Agreements because the customer payments under such Customer Agreements are dependent on solar energy system production or would require us to make refunds under performance guarantees. Any widespread product failures or operating deficiencies may damage our market reputation and adversely impact our financial results.

Costs1 | 2.8%

Costs - Risk 1

We typically bear the risk of loss and the cost of maintenance, repair and removal on solar energy systems that are owned by our subsidiaries and included in tax equity vehicles

We typically bear the risk of loss and are generally obligated to cover the cost of maintenance, repair, and removal for any of our solar energy systems. Under our Customer Agreements, we agree to operate and maintain the solar energy system for a fixed fee calculated to cover our future expected maintenance costs. If our solar energy systems require an above-average amount of repairs or if the cost of repairing the solar energy systems is higher than our estimate, we would need to perform such repairs without additional compensation. If our solar energy systems are damaged as the result of a natural disaster beyond our control, losses could exceed or be excluded from our insurance policy limits and we could incur unforeseen costs that could harm our business and financial condition. We may also incur significant costs for taking other actions in preparation for, or in reaction to, such events. We purchase property insurance with industry standard coverage and limits to hedge against such risk, but such coverage may not cover our losses.

Tech & Innovation

Total Risks: 3/36 (8%)Below Sector Average

Trade Secrets1 | 2.8%

Trade Secrets - Risk 1

We may need to defend ourselves against patent, copyright or trademark infringement claims or trade secret misappropriation claims, which may be time-consuming and cause us to incur substantial costs

Companies, organizations, or individuals, including our competitors, may own or obtain patents, trademarks or other proprietary rights that would prevent or limit our ability to make, use, develop or sell our home solar and other products and services, which could make it more difficult for us to operate our business. We may receive inquiries from patent, copyright or trademark owners inquiring whether we infringe upon their proprietary rights. We may also be the subject of allegations that we have misappropriated their trade secrets or other proprietary rights. Companies owning patents or other intellectual property rights relating to battery packs, electric motors, or electronic power management systems may allege infringement or misappropriation of such rights. In response to a determination that we have infringed upon or misappropriated a third party's intellectual property rights, we may be required to do one or more of the following: - cease development, sales or use of our products that incorporate the asserted intellectual property;- pay substantial damages;- obtain a license from the owner of the asserted intellectual property right, which license may not be available on reasonable terms or at all; or - redesign one or more aspects of an applicable product or service. A successful claim of infringement or misappropriation against us could materially adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results. Any litigation or claims, whether valid or invalid, could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources.

Cyber Security1 | 2.8%

Cyber Security - Risk 1

Any security breach, unauthorized access or disclosure, or theft of data, including personal information, we, our third party service providers, or our suppliers gather, store, transmit or use, could harm our reputation, subject us to claims, litigation, and financial harm and have an adverse impact on our business.

In the ordinary course of business, we, our third-party service providers and our suppliers receive, store, transmit, and use data, including the personal information of customers, such as names, addresses, email addresses, credit information and other housing and energy use data, as well as the personal information of our employees. Any unauthorized disclosure of such personal information, whether through a breach of our systems or those of our third-party service providers or suppliers by an unauthorized party, including, but not limited to hackers, threat actors, sophisticated nation-states or nation-state-supported actors, or through the personnel theft, or misuse of information, or otherwise, could harm our business. In addition, we, our third party service providers and our suppliers may be subject to a variety of evolving threats, such as computer malware (including as a result of advanced persistent threat intrusions), ransomware, malicious code (such as viruses or worms), social engineering (including spear phishing and smishing attacks), telecommunications failures, natural disasters and extreme weather events, general hacking and other similar threats. Cybersecurity incidents have become more prevalent and could occur on our systems and those of our third parties in the future. Our team members who work remotely pose increased risks to our information technology systems and data, because many of them utilize less secure network connections outside our premises. Inadvertent disclosure of confidential data or unauthorized access by a third party could result in future claims or litigation arising from damages suffered by those affected, government enforcement actions (for example, investigations, fines, penalties, audits, and inspections), additional reporting requirements and/or oversight, indemnification obligations, reputational harm, interruptions in our operations, financial loss, and other similar harms. In addition, we could incur significant costs in complying with the multitude of federal, state, and local laws, and applicable independent security control frameworks, regarding the unauthorized disclosure of personal information. Although we have not experienced a material information security breach in the past and have developed systems and processes to prevent or detect security breaches and protect the confidential information we receive, store, transmit, and use, we cannot assure that such measures will provide adequate security. Finally, any perceived or actual unauthorized disclosure of such information, unauthorized intrusion, or other cyberthreat could harm our reputation, substantially impair our ability to attract and retain customers, interrupt our operations, and have an adverse impact on our business. Our contracts may not contain limitations of liability, and even where they do, there can be no assurance that limitations of liability in our contracts are sufficient to protect us from liabilities, damages, or claims related to our data privacy and security obligations. While we currently maintain cybersecurity insurance, such insurance may not be sufficient to cover us against claims, and we cannot be certain that cybersecurity insurance will continue to be available to us on economically reasonable terms, or at all, or that any insurer will not deny coverage as to any future claim.

Technology1 | 2.8%

Technology - Risk 1

Developments in technology or improvements in distributed solar energy generation and related technologies or components may materially adversely affect demand for our offerings

Significant developments in technology, such as advances in distributed solar power generation, energy storage solutions such as batteries, energy storage management systems, the widespread use or adoption of fuel cells for residential or commercial properties or improvements in other forms of distributed or centralized power production may materially and adversely affect demand for our offerings and otherwise affect our business. Future technological advancements may result in reduced prices to consumers or more efficient solar energy systems than those available today, either of which may result in current customer dissatisfaction. We may not be able to adopt these new technologies as quickly as our competitors or on a cost-effective basis. Due to the length of our Customer Agreements, the solar energy system deployed on a customer's residence may be outdated prior to the expiration of the term of the related Customer Agreement, reducing the likelihood of renewal of our Customer Agreement at the end of the applicable term and possibly increasing the occurrence of customers seeking to terminate or cancel their Customer Agreements or customer defaults. If current customers become dissatisfied with the price they pay for their solar energy system under our Customer Agreements relative to prices that may be available in the future or if customers become dissatisfied by the output generated by their solar energy systems relative to future solar energy system production capabilities, or both, this may lead to customers seeking to terminate or cancel their Customer Agreements or to higher rates of customer default and have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, recent technological advancements may impact our business in ways we do not currently anticipate. Any failure by us to adopt or have access to new or enhanced technologies or processes, or to react to changes in existing technologies, could result in product obsolescence or the loss of competitiveness of and decreased consumer interest in our solar energy services, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Ability to Sell

Total Risks: 3/36 (8%)Below Sector Average

Demand1 | 2.8%

Demand - Risk 1

The solar energy industry is an emerging market which is constantly evolving and may not develop to the size or at the rate we expect. Demand for home solar systems may decline, cease or take longer to develop than we expect.

The distributed home solar energy market is at a relatively early stage and is a constantly evolving market. We believe the solar energy industry is still developing and maturing, and we cannot be certain that the market will grow to the size or at the rate we expect. Any future growth of the solar energy market and the success of our solar service offerings depend on many factors beyond our control, including recognition and acceptance of the solar service market by consumers, the pricing of alternative sources of energy, a favorable regulatory environment, the continuation of expected tax benefits and other incentives, and our ability to provide our solar service offerings cost effectively. If the markets for solar energy do not develop to the size or at the rate we expect, or demand for distributed home solar energy systems fails to develop sufficiently, our business may be adversely affected. Many factors may affect the demand for solar energy systems, including the following: - availability, substance and magnitude of solar support programs including government targets, subsidies, incentives, renewable portfolio standards and residential net metering rules;- the relative pricing of other conventional and non-renewable energy sources, such as natural gas, coal, oil and other fossil fuels, wind, utility-scale solar, nuclear, geothermal and biomass;- performance, reliability and availability of energy generated by solar energy systems compared to conventional and other non-solar renewable energy sources;- availability and performance of energy storage technology, the ability to implement such technology for use in conjunction with solar energy systems and the cost competitiveness such technology provides to customers as compared to costs for those customers reliant on the conventional electrical grid; and - general economic conditions and the level of interest rates. Solar energy has yet to achieve broad market acceptance and depends in part on continued support in the form of rebates, tax credits, and other incentives from federal, state and local governments. If this support diminishes materially, our ability to obtain external financing on acceptable terms, or at all, could be materially adversely affected. These types of funding limitations could lead to inadequate financing support for the anticipated growth in our business. We cannot be certain if historical growth rates reflect future opportunities or whether growth anticipated by us will be realized. Furthermore, growth in home solar energy depends in part on macroeconomic conditions, retail prices of electricity and customer preferences, each of which can change quickly. Declining macroeconomic conditions, including in the job markets and residential real estate markets, could contribute to instability and uncertainty among customers and impact their financial wherewithal, credit scores or interest in entering into long-term contracts, even if such contracts would generate immediate and long-term savings. Furthermore, market prices of retail electricity generated by utilities or other energy sources could decline for a variety of reasons, as discussed further below. Any such declines in macroeconomic conditions, changes in retail prices of electricity or changes in customer preferences would adversely impact our business.

Sales & Marketing1 | 2.8%

Sales & Marketing - Risk 1

Our business model requires further market penetration to drive growth and a failure to acquire additional home solar portfolios would have a material adverse effect on our operating results and business and could result in our operating expenses exceeding our revenues.

It may be difficult to predict our future revenues and appropriately budget for our expenses, and we have limited insight into trends that may emerge and affect our business. In the event that actual results differ from our estimates or we adjust our estimates in future periods, our operating results and financial position could be materially affected. Our future results depend on the successful implementation of Management's growth strategies (including acquisition of additional home solar portfolios and the launch of new products and services) and are based on assumptions and events over which we have only partial or no control. These initiatives and products may not generate as much revenue, cost more to bring to market and create greater liabilities than we anticipate. We will continue to encounter risks and difficulties frequently experienced by early stage companies, including scaling up our infrastructure and headcount, and may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties or delays in connection with our growth. In addition, as a result of the capital-intensive nature of our business, we may sustain substantial operating expenses without generating sufficient revenues to cover expenditures.

Brand / Reputation1 | 2.8%

Brand / Reputation - Risk 1

Unfavorable publicity, failure to respond effectively to adverse publicity, reports published by analysts, including projections in those reports that differ from our actual results, or securities or industry analysts who do not publish or cease publishing research or reports about us could adversely affect our business.

We expect that securities research analysts will establish and publish their own periodic projections for our business. These projections may vary widely and may not accurately predict the results we actually achieve. Maintaining and enhancing our brand and reputation is critical to our ability to attract and retain employees, partners, customers, and investors, and to mitigate legislative or regulatory scrutiny, litigation and government investigations. Recent negative publicity has adversely affected our brand and reputation and our stock price. Negative publicity may result from allegations of fraud, improper business practices, employee misconduct or any other matters that could give rise to litigation and/or governmental investigations. Unfavorable publicity relating to us or those affiliated with us has and may in the future adversely affect public perception of the entire company. Adverse publicity and its effect on overall public perceptions of our brand, or our failure to respond effectively to adverse publicity, could have a material adverse effect on our business. Negative publicity may adversely affect our brand and reputation as well as our stock price, which may make it difficult for us to attract and retain employees, partners and customers, reduce confidence in our products and services, harm investor confidence and the market price of our securities, and invite legislative and regulatory scrutiny. As a result, customers, potential customers, partners and potential partners may in the future fail to award us additional business or cancel or seek to cancel existing contracts or otherwise, direct future business to our competitors, and investors may invest in our competitors instead. Our stock price may decline if our actual results do not match the projections of these securities research analysts. Similarly, if one or more of the analysts who write reports on us downgrades our stock or publishes inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our stock price could decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases coverage of us or fails to publish reports on us regularly, our stock price or trading volume could decline.

Macro & Political

Total Risks: 2/36 (6%)Below Sector Average

Economy & Political Environment1 | 2.8%

Economy & Political Environment - Risk 1

Global economic conditions and any related ongoing impact of supply chain constraints, including the market for our products and services could adversely affect our results of operations

The uncertain condition of the global economy as well as the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, including the retaliatory economic measures taken by Unites States, European, and others continue impacting businesses around the world. The deterioration of the economic conditions or financial uncertainty to provide our services could reduce customers' confidence and negatively affect our sales and results of operations. Also, the recent inflationary pressures have increased the cost of energy, raw materials, and other indirect costs used in our business could adversely influence customer purchasing decisions. We cannot predict whether or when such circumstances may change, improve, or worsen in the near future.

Natural and Human Disruptions1 | 2.8%

Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 1

Our solar energy systems and energy storage systems depend heavily on suitable solar and meteorological conditions. Seasonality fluctuations and effects of climate change could adversely affect our results of operations

The energy produced and the revenue and cash receipts generated by a solar energy system depend on suitable solar, atmospheric, and weather conditions, all of which are beyond our control. Shifts in weather are difficult to predict and may not be immediately apparent, and the impact of these changes is difficult to quantify from period to period. Our economic model and projected returns on our solar energy systems require achievement of certain production results from our systems and, in some cases, we guarantee these results to our consumers. There can be no assurance we will be successful in implementing effective strategies to counter these shifts in weather. If the solar energy systems underperform for any reason, our business could suffer. For example, the amount of revenue we recognize in a given period and the amount of our obligations under the performance guarantees of our Customer Agreements are dependent in part on the amount of energy generated by solar energy systems under such Customer Agreements. Furthermore, climate change could exacerbate the frequency and severity of weather events in all areas where we operate. Climate change or other factors could also cause prevailing weather patterns to materially change in the future, making it harder to predict the average annual amount of sunlight striking each location where our solar energy systems and energy storage systems are. Potential negative effects of climate change include, among others, a temporary decrease in solar availability in certain locations, disruptions in transmission grids and delays or reductions in new installations. These or other effects could make our solar energy systems less economical overall or make individual solar energy systems less economical. Any of these effects on meteorological conditions could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

See a full breakdown of risk according to category and subcategory. The list starts with the category with the most risk. Click on subcategories to read relevant extracts from the most recent report.

FAQ

What are “Risk Factors”?

Risk factors are any situations or occurrences that could make investing in a company risky.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires that publicly traded companies disclose their most significant risk factors. This is so that potential investors can consider any risks before they make an investment.

They also offer companies protection, as a company can use risk factors as liability protection. This could happen if a company underperforms and investors take legal action as a result.

It is worth noting that smaller companies, that is those with a public float of under $75 million on the last business day, do not have to include risk factors in their 10-K and 10-Q forms, although some may choose to do so.

How do companies disclose their risk factors?

Publicly traded companies initially disclose their risk factors to the SEC through their S-1 filings as part of the IPO process.

Additionally, companies must provide a complete list of risk factors in their Annual Reports (Form 10-K) or (Form 20-F) for “foreign private issuers”.

Quarterly Reports also include a section on risk factors (Form 10-Q) where companies are only required to update any changes since the previous report.

According to the SEC, risk factors should be reported concisely, logically and in “plain English” so investors can understand them.

How can I use TipRanks risk factors in my stock research?

Use the Risk Factors tab to get data about the risk factors of any company in which you are considering investing.

You can easily see the most significant risks a company is facing. Additionally, you can find out which risk factors a company has added, removed or adjusted since its previous disclosure. You can also see how a company’s risk factors compare to others in its sector.

Without reading company reports or participating in conference calls, you would most likely not have access to this sort of information, which is usually not included in press releases or other public announcements.

A simplified analysis of risk factors is unique to TipRanks.

What are all the risk factor categories?

TipRanks has identified 6 major categories of risk factors and a number of subcategories for each. You can see how these categories are broken down in the list below.

1. Financial & Corporate

Accounting & Financial Operations - risks related to accounting loss, value of intangible assets, financial statements, value of intangible assets, financial reporting, estimates, guidance, company profitability, dividends, fluctuating results.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights – risks related to things that impact share prices and the rights of shareholders, including analyst ratings, major shareholder activity, trade volatility, liquidity of shares, anti-takeover provisions, international listing, dual listing.
Debt & Financing – risks related to debt, funding, financing and interest rates, financial investments.
Corporate Activity and Growth – risks related to restructuring, M&As, joint ventures, execution of corporate strategy, strategic alliances.

2. Legal & Regulatory

Litigation and Legal Liabilities – risks related to litigation/ lawsuits against the company.
Regulation – risks related to compliance, GDPR, and new legislation.
Environmental / Social – risks related to environmental regulation and to data privacy.
Taxation & Government Incentives – risks related to taxation and changes in government incentives.

3. Production

Costs – risks related to costs of production including commodity prices, future contracts, inventory.
Supply Chain – risks related to the company’s suppliers.
Manufacturing – risks related to the company’s manufacturing process including product quality and product recalls.
Human Capital – risks related to recruitment, training and retention of key employees, employee relationships & unions labor disputes, pension, and post retirement benefits, medical, health and welfare benefits, employee misconduct, employee litigation.

4. Technology & Innovation

Innovation / R&D – risks related to innovation and new product development.
Technology – risks related to the company’s reliance on technology.
Cyber Security – risks related to securing the company’s digital assets and from cyber attacks.
Trade Secrets & Patents – risks related to the company’s ability to protect its intellectual property and to infringement claims against the company as well as piracy and unlicensed copying.

5. Ability to Sell

Demand – risks related to the demand of the company’s goods and services including seasonality, reliance on key customers.
Competition – risks related to the company’s competition including substitutes.
Sales & Marketing – risks related to sales, marketing, and distribution channels, pricing, and market penetration.
Brand & Reputation – risks related to the company’s brand and reputation.

6. Macro & Political

Economy & Political Environment – risks related to changes in economic and political conditions.
Natural and Human Disruptions – risks related to catastrophes, floods, storms, terror, earthquakes, coronavirus pandemic/COVID-19.
International Operations – risks related to the global nature of the company.
Capital Markets – risks related to exchange rates and trade, cryptocurrency.

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